According to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, children are also likely receiving less health care.

In the study, nearly one in two families reported being in a financially worse situation than six months ago.

Of those families, 11 percent had delayed their child’s doctor’s visits and 16 percent had delayed dentist’s visits to make ends meet. The number of parents delaying health care is about twice what is was in previous surveys, he said.

About a quarter of those parents indicated they’d applied for free or reduced lunch programs and applied for state or government insurance for their children.

“This is also to help parents understand they’re not alone in this and to help policy makers respond in meaningful ways,” Davis said.

Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2535 or tinareed@annarbor.com.